Internal diameter cutting blades and methods

Abstract

An internal diameter blade includes an inner diameter having an inner cutting edge, an outer diameter having an outer mounting edge, a blade surface defined between the inner edge and the outer edge, and a plurality of cuts in the blade surface. In various embodiments, the cuts reduce a vacuum between the blade and a material being cut by the blade. In various embodiments, the plurality of cuts comprises a plurality of holes through the blade. In various embodiments, the plurality of cuts comprises at least one groove extending in a direction away from the inner edge. A cutting method uses an internal diameter blade to reduce a vacuum between the blade and a material being cut by the blade.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An internal diameter blade, comprising: 
 an inner diameter having an inner cutting edge;    an outer diameter having an outer mounting edge;    a blade surface defined between the inner cutting edge and the outer mounting edge; and    a plurality of cuts in the blade surface.    
     
     
         2 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cuts in the blade surface constitutes means for reducing a vacuum between the blade and a material being cut by the blade.  
     
     
         3 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cuts in the blade surface comprises a plurality of holes through the blade.  
     
     
         4 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 3 , wherein the holes decrease in size in a direction away from the inner cutting edge.  
     
     
         5 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of holes comprises at least one series of holes extending in the direction away from the inner cutting edge.  
     
     
         6 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one series of holes includes holes that are offset relative to a preceding hole in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         7 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of holes comprises at least one series of holes extending in a direction away from the inner cutting edge.  
     
     
         8 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one series of holes includes holes that are offset relative to a preceding hole in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         9 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cuts in the blade surface comprises at least one groove extending in a direction away from the inner cutting edge.  
     
     
         10 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 9 , wherein an outer end of the at least one groove is offset relative to an inner end of the at least one groove in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         11 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one groove is curved toward the outer mounting edge in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         12 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one groove comprises at least one channel that increases in width in a direction away from the inner cutting edge.  
     
     
         13 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 12 , wherein an outer end of the at least one channel is offset relative to an inner end of the at least one channel in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         14 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one channel is curved toward the outer mounting edge in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         15 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one channel has at least one secondary groove.  
     
     
         16 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 15 , wherein an outer end of the at least one channel is offset relative to an inner end of the at least one channel in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade, and an outer end of the at least one secondary groove is offset relative to an inner end of the at least one secondary groove in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         17 . The internal diameter blade of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one channel and the at least one secondary groove are curved toward the outer mounting edge in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the blade.  
     
     
         18 . A cutting method, comprising: 
 inserting an object to be cut into an inner diameter of an internal diameter blade having a plurality of cuts in a blade surface defined between an inner cutting edge and an outer mounting edge;    moving at least one of the object and the internal diameter blade in a cutting direction; and    rotating the internal diameter blade in a direction of rotation.    
     
     
         19 . The cutting method of  claim 18 , wherein rotating the internal diameter blade in a direction of rotation comprises reducing a vacuum between at least a portion of the object being cut and the internal diameter blade.